11th Pan-European Conference on International Relations
The Politics of International Studies in an Age of Crises
13-16 September 2017, Barcelona, Spain
Organizers: European International Studies Association and Institut Barcelona Estudis Internacionals
The European Union: Promoting or obstructing global justice?
Section 42
Global justice is most often thought of as a matter of what would be a fair distribution of goods and resources – hence the quest for global distributive justice. But also a hegemon can distribute goods in a just manner: the focus on distribution of goods in theories of justice blends out the first question of justice, namely that of political power. In this section we propose to engage with the theoretical debates on global political justice through analyses of the EU's global role. While being a polity that grapples with its own internal dilemmas of justice, the European Union also presents itself as an actor that promotes and safeguards values at the global level. But how precisely does this system, this unfinished order of institutionalised duties and obligations, project itself unto the global arena? In the context of intensified globalisation and economic integration, there is increasing recognition that the settlement of justice claims cannot be confined to domestic political settings. Yet, the concept of justice is contested. To the extent that the EU contributes to enhance global justice, what conception of justice does it rely upon and to what extent is this conception echoed by state and non-state actors outside of Europe?
This section brought together papers that addressed the conceptual debate on global political justice, and linked this to the specific question of the EU's global role. Thus, the section aimed to cross disciplinary boundaries, in particular between international political theory, international relations and EU studies. There was considerable interest for the call for papers for this section, which will consisted of several panels with participation from scholars within the GLOBUS project as well as from the wider scholarly community.
The following GLOBUS-researchers participated in the section:
Section chairs:
Helene Sjursen, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
Ben Tonra, University College Dublin
TB42: Global Justice and European Security (GLOBUS I)
Helene Sjursen ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo (chair)
Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Wits School of Governance
Nikola Tomic, University College Dublin
Ben Tonra, University College Dublin
TC42: The European Union and Climate Justice (GLOBUS II)
Ben Tonra, University College Dublin (chair)
Thomas Diez, University of Tübingen
Franziskus von Lucke, University of Tübingen
Bettina Ahrens, University of Tübingen
TD42: Trade, Development and Justice (GLOBUS III)
Helene Sjursen, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo (chair)
Johanne Døhlie Saltnes, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
Pundy Pillay, Wits School of Governance
Samuel Brazys, University College Dublin
David Everatt, Wits School of Governance
FB42: Conceptions of Justice in EU Foreign Policy (GLOBUS IV)
Pundy Pillay, Wits School of Governance (chair)
Helene Sjursen, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
Thomas Diez, University of Tübingen
Bettina Ahrens, University of Tübingen
Michela Ceccorulli, University of Bologna
Enrico Fassi, Catholic University Milan
Nikola Tomic, University College Dublin
Ben Tonra, University College Dublin
FC42: Justice and the 'Refugee Crisis': The EU, Migration and its Contestants (GLOBUS V)
Thomas Diez, University of Tübingen (chair)
Giorgio Grappi, University of Bologna
Antonio Zotti, University of Bologna
SB42: The European Union's Relations with Strategic Partners (GLOBUS VI)
Ben Tonra, University College Dublin (chair)
Sonia Lucarelli, University of Bologna (discussant)
SC42: Exporting Norms of Democracy and Human Rights (GLOBUS VII)
Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Wits School of Governance (chair)
